Aerial View of House at Sunset
Photo of a mid-sized modern two-storey brown house exterior in San Francisco with mixed siding, a flat roof and a white roof.

Palm Beach Pink

Joy R. Dabill Interior Design

Classic Bermuda style architecture, fun vintage Palm Beach interiors.
Inspiration for a large tropical two-storey stucco pink house exterior in Other with a tile roof and a white roof.

WESTWOOD

WE PLUS ARCHITECTS

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional two-storey white house exterior in New York with wood siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a white roof and shingle siding.

Pacific House

Slater Architects

The brief for this beachfront renovation was to use the bones and keep the theme of the existing weatherboard beach house and convert it into a modern light-filled coastal home that maximised the beach vistas. Part of the brief was to add another story with a master bedroom, ensuite and a private balcony with views over the beach. The original cottage was located forward of the erosion line, so with the help of Northrop Engineers we cantilevered the bedroom over the coastal erosion line to create the new master bedroom with the view. We added a new double garage and double-height entry foyer with a picture frame window, framing the feature pendant lighting and washing the entry with natural light. In the main living are we used large expanses of glass which captured the views, provided ventilation, and washed the space with natural light. Upstairs we added two bedrooms with raked ceilings, ensuites, walk-in-robes and private access to the outdoors. On the southern side of the house we added a swimming pool which became a water feature off the living room, and on the beach side of we added an outdoor kitchen to update the outdoor entertaining space.

Baboolal Residence

Arielle C. Schechter, AIA

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern one-storey grey house exterior in Raleigh with mixed siding and a white roof.

Periscope House

Mihaly Slocombe

Periscope House draws light into a young family’s home, adding thoughtful solutions and flexible spaces to 1950s Art Deco foundations. Our clients engaged us to undertake a considered extension to their character-rich home in Malvern East. They wanted to celebrate their home’s history while adapting it to the needs of their family, and future-proofing it for decades to come. The extension’s form meets with and continues the existing roofline, politely emerging at the rear of the house. The tones of the original white render and red brick are reflected in the extension, informing its white Colorbond exterior and selective pops of red throughout. Inside, the original home’s layout has been reimagined to better suit a growing family. Once closed-in formal dining and lounge rooms were converted into children’s bedrooms, supplementing the main bedroom and a versatile fourth room. Grouping these rooms together has created a subtle definition of zones: private spaces are nestled to the front, while the rear extension opens up to shared living areas. A tailored response to the site, the extension’s ground floor addresses the western back garden, and first floor (AKA the periscope) faces the northern sun. Sitting above the open plan living areas, the periscope is a mezzanine that nimbly sidesteps the harsh afternoon light synonymous with a western facing back yard. It features a solid wall to the west and a glass wall to the north, emulating the rotation of a periscope to draw gentle light into the extension. Beneath the mezzanine, the kitchen, dining, living and outdoor spaces effortlessly overlap. Also accessible via an informal back door for friends and family, this generous communal area provides our clients with the functionality, spatial cohesion and connection to the outdoors they were missing. Melding modern and heritage elements, Periscope House honours the history of our clients’ home while creating light-filled shared spaces – all through a periscopic lens that opens the home to the garden.

Jefferson Residence

Naarkaali Design Studio

Simple facade
Large contemporary one-storey brick white house exterior in Other with a hip roof, a metal roof and a white roof.

Modern - Sherman Lake view

HSL Building Company, LLC

Modern Lake House with expansive views and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy the pristine location in Sherman Connecticut. two level kitchen island, zebra wood kitchen cabinets

Huizache House

PAUL CREMOUX studio

A visual artist and his fiancée’s house and studio were designed with various themes in mind, such as the physical context, client needs, security, and a limited budget. Six options were analyzed during the schematic design stage to control the wind from the northeast, sunlight, light quality, cost, energy, and specific operating expenses. By using design performance tools and technologies such as Fluid Dynamics, Energy Consumption Analysis, Material Life Cycle Assessment, and Climate Analysis, sustainable strategies were identified. The building is self-sufficient and will provide the site with an aquifer recharge that does not currently exist. The main masses are distributed around a courtyard, creating a moderately open construction towards the interior and closed to the outside. The courtyard contains a Huizache tree, surrounded by a water mirror that refreshes and forms a central part of the courtyard. The house comprises three main volumes, each oriented at different angles to highlight different views for each area. The patio is the primary circulation stratagem, providing a refuge from the wind, a connection to the sky, and a night sky observatory. We aim to establish a deep relationship with the site by including the open space of the patio.

Umina Beach, NSW

Milk Chocolate Projects

Inspiration for a beach style one-storey white house exterior in Central Coast with wood siding, a gable roof, a metal roof and a white roof.

Mid-Century Modern Home brought into the 21st Century.

Patricia B. Warren, AIA Warren Architecture, LLC

The design of the roofline of the original house, built in 1968, mimics the silhouettes of the nearby mountains with its sloping parallel walls of painted slump block. The top of the walls angle back and forth like the mountain ranges that surround Tucson, AZ. The new fiber-cement siding, replaced old bland stucco. The vertical lines of the siding offer a contrast to the horizontal lines of the slump block walls.

Vivienda Malladoura_fachada posterior y piscina

Estudio Maas

En contraste con la fachada a la calle, la fachada posterior de la vivienda se abre a la parcela para favorecer la iluminación y soleamiento del interior, así como la conexión visual permanente dentro/fuera.

Contemporary Craftsman

ArchiNerd PLLC

White painted board and batten exterior on a simple craftsman form. Large windows open to the open plan kitchen, living and dining area at the center of the home. The exterior is balanced and intentional.

Fachada lateral de acceso

e20 Arquitectos

Large mediterranean three-storey white house exterior in Palma de Mallorca with stone veneer, a flat roof and a white roof.

Waters Edge Custom

NJR Studios

Large beach style two-storey white house exterior in Sydney with concrete fiberboard siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, a white roof and board and batten siding.

Balmoral Renovation

MLDG

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style two-storey grey house exterior in Brisbane with wood siding, a hip roof, a metal roof and a white roof.

New custom Beach side home in Cottesloe

Lyons Architects

Design ideas for a large beach style three-storey white house exterior in Perth with stone veneer, a flat roof, a metal roof and a white roof.

niguel west mid-century modern

Moss Yaw Design studio

aerial perspective of rear yard and new outdoor dining, kitchen, and pool area
Mid-sized midcentury one-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Orange County with wood siding, a flat roof, a mixed roof and a white roof.

Wolf-Huang House on Lake Orange

Arielle C. Schechter, AIA

The exterior of the Wolf-Huang residence is horizontal and linear so that most of the rooms can have a view of the water. The low slung lines of the house echo the horizontality of the lake.

House with Site

ODS Architecture

An exterior view of the house and it's natural landscape.
Photo of a mid-sized modern two-storey concrete grey house exterior in San Francisco with a flat roof and a white roof.

House Exterior Design Ideas with a White Roof

The front exterior of your home – the driveway, front yard, verandah and entrance – is a fantastic place to start making that all-important first impression on house guests. Even mailboxes and house numbers can have a wonderful way of grabbing people’s attention. The architectural design should reflect the overall style of your house and the family that live there; while your choice of materials will help your house blend in with its surrounds. Browse the photos on Houzz for ideas and inspiration for the exterior of your house, and strike up a conversation with the architects and designers of your favourite picks. You’ll find house designs for contemporary, eclectic, modern, traditional styles and more.

How do I decide on the exterior style of my home?

Your location, overall sense of style, budget and current home layout will dictate the style of your exterior. If you’re renovating a period home, the materials and features you use should reflect the date in which it was built, while a unique colour scheme could add contemporary flair. New homes may prefer to look to modern or contemporary designs with structural simplicity, whereas, if you live by the ocean, a beach-style design may better suit your locale. That’s not to say you can’t build a new home that has period influences. If you’re a traditionalist, you can borrow architectural details from the Art Deco period, for instance, or use finishes that reflect more of a Scandinavian style, too.

What exterior house colours and materials should I use?

Traditional homes typically use brick and timber building materials, while stone, board-formed concrete and metal cladding are popular contemporary options. Again, the materials you use will depend on your location and the statement you want to make. Your budget will also affect your choice. Vinyl siding is affordable and easy to install, while stone is more expensive but durable and low maintenance. If you’re not ready to renovate but want to update the exterior of your home, you can still paint it. Look to your neighbours when choosing exterior house colours. Consider the streetscape and what type of colours are already in use, firstly, so you don’t replicate next door’s shade; and secondly, so you don’t stand out like a sore thumb. If you’re renovating a period home, you could paint features or intricate details in a bold, standout hue. Front doors, garage doors and window trims also look great in eye-catching colours, even if the rest of the house’s facade is neutral.

How can I maximise my home’s street appeal?

To spice up your home’s architectural design, landscape the surrounding area with plants and pathways that accent the style of your home. If you just need a quick revamp, look at your cement and pavers – these can split and crack over time; and repairing or replacing them can do wonders for your street appeal, especially if it’s a large area like your driveway. Plants, garden paths or low walls can can also add structure to your front yard. Light up your home with sufficient outdoor lighting to make walking up to the front door easy at night. You could use bollard lights along your entry path, or replace tiny wall sconces with statement pendant lighting at the entrance or on your verandah. Decorative elements such as house numbers, mailboxes and doormats will also add character. And if you're looking to sell your house, it may be worth hiring a stylist to help make the most of your property.